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Private Dog Park
Provides Off-Leash Protection to your Dog
Author: Terri L Malueg-Ray, Professional Dog Expert
With the increasing number of serious incidents
reported at public and community dog parks, private dog parks are quickly
gaining popularity as the only safe and enjoyable choice for dogs and their
owners Alpharetta, GA
2/7/2006 2:57 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)
The
current trend is city and home communities responding to area dog owner demand
by setting aside a small plot of their least desirable piece of land and
designating it as the area dog park. Unfortunately these unmanaged and
unregulated dog parks often turn to that of neighbor confrontation, injury and
horror, even with the best of intending groups and dog owners. Let’s face it,
without any oversight or enforcement, incidents are going to occur. So with this
increasing number of these dog parks follow the increasing number of serious
incidents being reported. The well intending community becomes the venue for
headlines such as "Dog Killed" or "Child Mauled by Aggressive Dogs". The only
safe alternative is that of a well run, private dog park where it is run as a
viable business. A properly designed and managed private dog park is an entirely
different experience than public parks because it will include dog screening,
grounds maintenance, park rules enforcement and more suitable land parcels.
The benefits to a dog at an off-leash dog park or any open area of land are
immense. Unleashed running elevates heart rate, increases metabolism, improves
gastrointestinal efficiency, and extends muscles and joints, all of which
contributes to general overall fitness. It is known that maintaining such a
healthy lifestyle for your loved dog will increase longevity and reduce risk of
all associated conditions and diseases that obesity can cause. The experience
for a dog in open field run is like no leashed exercise. Benefits of off-leash
play beyond fitness include socialization, that is, if experienced without
incident. Well exercised and well socialized dogs make better community members
as they are much less likely to contribute to neighborhood nuisances like
chronic barking or aggression to other dogs.
If public parks could operate as the run private dog parks do, these benefits
would be available to all community dogs near any type of dog park.
Unfortunately, these community or city dog parks cannot staff, screen or have
the resources to manage park operations. Thus, incidents will occur, often
causing loss of dog's developed social skills and development of behavioral
issues. Incidents like a dog being intimidated, bullied or even attacked by
another dog will occur in parks not privately run. Such negative experiences can
cause dog aggression, fear aggression or cause physical injury or death.
Physical or emotional recovery of a dog from a traumatic incident requires a
positive and secure environment that only a well managed private dog park can
provide. The good experiences enjoyed in a well-managed private dog park is the
primary reason that many loved dog owners everywhere chose private over
potential chaos at a public dog park.
Even with the best of run private dog parks, the dog owners retain a high level
of responsibility upon park entrance and must be willing to withstand the
occasional park staff directive. They must carefully watch their dog, abide by
all park rules, maintain the obedience skills of the dog and know their dog well
enough to predict their dog’s behavior. Each dog owner should understand their
dog’s postures, expressions and movement to be able to differentiate in
off-leash situations when they are comfortable and when they are not and to
identify or correct any potential troublesome behaviors. This too is critical to
the enjoyment of the park by all.
While private dog parks are gaining popularity because they may be the only
choice for safe and enjoyable off-leash fun, still do homework because none of
the dog parks are regulated by any government agency. A good rule of thumb for
any place intended to visit with a dog, learn your dog's body language and level
of social skills, have good control and be comfortable with the facility layout
and staff to lessen the chances of any possible incident with your dog.
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